Forced-feed lubricating system for roller journals



oct.A 14, 1930. r

M. FRlscl-I 1,778,525 FORCED'FEED LUBRICATING SYSTEM FOR ROLLER JOURNALS Filed Febfg, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 14, 1930. M. FRISCH A 1,778,525

FORCED FEED LUBRICATING SYSTEM FOR ROLLER JOURNALS File'd Feb. 9, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 f 3e' mm l Oct. 14, 1930. M. FRlscH A "1,778,525

FORCED FEED'LUBRICATING SYSTEM FOR ROLLER JOURNALS Filed F'eb. 9, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Oct. 14, 1930.I M. FRlscH 1,778,525

FORCED FEED LUBRICATING SYSTEM FOR ROLLER JOURNALS Patented Oct. 14, 1.930

UNIraD STATES I PATENT OFFICE; y

MARTIN FRISCH, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO INTERNATIONAL COMBUSTION ENGINEERING CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION F DELAWARE i FORCED-FEED LUBRICATING SYSTEM FOR ROLLER JOURNALS Application filed February 9, 1928. Serial No. 253,079.

This invention relates to a new land improved forced feed lubricating system for the bearings .of the several rollers ofa pulverizing mill of the general type shown, for example, in the patent to Raymond et al. 1,573,191, granted February 16, 1926. In a mill of this type, a plurality of pulverizing rollers are pivotally suspended in a circular series from a frame or spider which rotates about a vertical axis, the rollers swinging out bycentrifugal force against the inner surface of a fined circular bull-ring, whereby the material caught between the ring and rollers is pulverized. Means is provided for suspending each individual roller from the spider so that it may rotate about its own axis, and a self-contained lubricating system is `usually provided for supplying lubricant uo the bearings which rotatably support the roller. Ac-

f cording to the present'invention, means are provided for forcing lubricant from a source of supply (preferably located outside of the mill) to and through the several bearings of each individual roller, then collecting this oil ff' and returning same to the source.

The principalv object of the invention is to irovide an improved forced feed lubricat ing system for a pulverizing mill of this type, as disclosed and claimed hereinafter.

Another object is to provide improved means for distributing lubricant that is forced from a single source of supply,-to a plurality of separateroller-lubricating systems, and then collecting the lubricant returned from these separate systems and returning the lubricant to the source.

Another object is to provide improved means for continuously conducting a flow of oil through the several bearings of a single roller assembly.

ther objects and advantages of the invern tion will be more apparent from the following detailed description of one approved form of the apparatus.

- the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, with the cover bull ring 9, the pulverizing of the mill casing and the feeding mechanism, removed. Y A Fig. 3 is a central Vvertical section through the oil distributing and collecting head.`

Fig. 4: is a horizontal section, taken substan tially on the line 4=-4 of Fig. 3. i

Fig. 5 is a horizontalsection taken substan tially on the line 5--5 of Fig. 3. f ,e i

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 6-6 of F ig.\3. Fig. 7 is a vertical sectionthroughone of the pulverizing roller assemblies. i

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section, on a larger scale, taken substantially on the line 8-8 of Fig.7.

Fig9 is a horizontal section taken substantially on the line 9--9 of Fig. 7 L i The invention is here shown as appliedto a roller pulverizing mill comprising a base or supporting framework ly from which rises a 'central pedestal 2, in which is. journaled the main central driven shaft 3. ShaftB'is rotated by means of a beveled gear llslxed to its lower end and meshing with the bevel pinion 5 on 'a drive shaft 6. Mounted' on the upper endl of shaft 3 is the spider or ro'- tating frame 7 from which are ,suspended the pulverizing rollers indicated generally at 8., In the present example, there are six of these rollers hung at equally spaced'intervals about the periphery ofthe spiderV 7 so that they may rotate on their own axes and also swing in vertical .planes passing through the axisof the shaft 3. VVhenthe VVassembly is rotated, thev rollers swing outwardly by centrifugal force againstthe fixed rollers 10 rolling along the inner surface o this bull ring to pulverize the material which is introduced by any suitable feeding means such as 1l, mounted in the enclosing housingy l2. A rotating skirt or shield 13 is suspended from spider 7 between the rollers and the pedestal 2, and a plurality of plows 14 carried by this skirt help to feed the material upbetween the rollers 10. andthe bull ring,9 so that it i may be pulverized.

There are several approved ways inwhich Vthe pulverizing rollers may be rotatably suspended from thespider 7, one approved exa-mple being shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, and disclosed more in detail and claimed in applicants copending application Serial No. 253,080, filed February 9, 1928. Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1, 2, 7, 8 and 9, the spider 7 is formed with a plurality of outwardly projecting yok-es 15, in the arms 16 and 17 on each of which is rotatably mounted a trunnion shaft 18. On the trunnion shaft is secured the rocker member 19 having a laterally projecting boss or bracket 20. The roller supporting shaft 21 has an upper conical end portion 22 which is drawn up tightly within the correspondingly shaped opening in boss 2O by means of the nut 23 screwed onto the reduced threaded end portion 24 of the shaft. A key 21a fitting mat ing grooves in the boss 20 and shaft 21 prevents relative rotation between these two members.

An oil supply conduit or passage 25 extends axially through shaft 21 from end to end thereof, the upper portion of this passage being enlarged as indicated at 26. A

A tube 27, of substantially the same bore as the lower portion of passage 25, extends through the enlarged portion 26 so as to divide this passage into a continuation of the supply passage or conduit 25 and an annular outer return passage 28. A cap 29, screwed onto the upper threaded end 24 of shaft 21, is engaged with the upper end of the tube 27 so as to separate the supply and return passages at their upper ends. The trunnion 18 is bored out from one end to form an inlet passage 30 and an outlet passage 31. A passage or conduit 32 bor-ed out of the shaft 21, rocker 20 and trunnion 18 connects the annular return passage 28 in the shaft with the outlet passage 31 in the trunnion. A lateral passage 33 extends vertically from the inlet passage 30 through the top of the trunnion and rocker 20, and a screw plug 34 threaded into the top of rocker 2O forms a continuation of this passage. A tubular conduit 35 is connected with plug 34 by means of the cap nut 36 which engages over the enlarged head of tube 35. In an exactly similar manner, the other end of tubular conduit 35 is connected by means of cap 37 and plug 38 with the cap 29 on shaft 21, so that the conduit 35 will form a continuation of the tube 27 and supply passage 25 in the shaft 21. A fixture 39 secured to the end of trunnion shaft 18 is formed with two threaded nozzles 40 and 41, conveniently arranged at right angles to one another, whereby flexible conduits 42 and 43 may be connected with the respective inlet and outlet passages 30 and 31, by means of cap nuts 44.

A hollow sleeve or housing 45 surrounds the major portion of shaft 21 concentrically therewith but spaced therefrom as will be hereinafter apparent. A bottom closure member 46 extends around the lower end of the example here shown. The closure member 46 is hollowed out at 50 to form a well for lubricant. The pulverizing roller 10 is clamped to and suspended from the closure member 46, by means of a series of bolts 51.

A nut 52 screwed onto the lower threaded end 53 of shaft 21, supports through washer 54, al sleeve or bushing 55 having an annular ring or nut 56 screwed onto its lower end. Sleeve 55 extends up practically the length of the housing 45 and slidably engages the outer surface of shaft 21 adjacent its upper and lower ends, the shaft 21 being slightly reduced between these points as indicated at 57. Oil passages 58 connect the enclosed annular space 57 with the oil space 59 between n the housing 45 and bushing 55. rIhe upper end of bushing or sleeve 55 is flanged out wardly at 60, and a spiral shock-absorbing spring 61 is confined between flange 60 and a xed annular flange 62 on shaft 21.

A roller thrust-bearing assembly, preferably of the type known as Bower7 roller bearings, supports the sleeve or housing 45 and parts carried thereby from the lower end of shaft 21. 63 are confined between an inner race ring 64 which surrounds sleeve 55 and is supported on nut 56, and an outer race ring 65 which fits within an annular recess 66 in the lower end of sleeve 45. A similar roller bearing assembly 67 is provided adjacent the upper end of sleeve 55, the inner race ring 68 being confined beneath the outstanding flange 6() at the upper end of sleeve or bushing A helical rib or flange 69 projects inwardly from the inner wall of sleeve 45 into rather close proximity to the sleeve 55, although it does not engage therewith. This flange 69 is curved in such a direction with relation to the direction of rotation of the rotating There is a natural tendency for this oil to :i:

travel upwardly, due to the rotation of the container, but the flange 69 forms a means for positively lifting the oil so as to expedite the continuous flow of oil through the rotating assembly.

A cap or closure member 70 is screwed into the upper end of housing 45, above the upper roller bearing 67. Cap 70 has an outstanding flange 71 which extends over the upper end 72 of sleeve 45, fiange 71 being provided with a series of recesses 73 adapted to be selectively engaged by the upper end of a locking bar 74 secured to sleeve 45 by screw bolts 75. The elevation of cap 70 may be properly adjusted by screwing the cap into The annular series of rollers or out of the sleeve 45, and it is then locked irl-adjusted position by means of the locking bar 74. n The upper'end 76 of cap 70 eX- tends into close proximity'to an enlarged portion 77 of shaft 21, and houses and supports a pair of annular gaskets 78 and 79 which bear respectively against the shaft 21 and the lower plane face of a collar 8O secured to the s iaft. These gaskets are adapted to seal the joint between the shaft and the rotating assembly, and prevent the excessive escape of oil. A very slight escapeof oil is desirable in order to combat and prevent the entrance of dust through this joint. vThe lower face of collar 8O is also provided with a series of partially spiral grooves 81 also tending to work against the escape of oil through this joint. v

The walls of the cavity 82 in cap 70 are provided with a spiral rib or flange 83, similar to rib 69 in sleeve 45, for lifting` oil through the spacewithin cap 7 O,above theupper roller bearing 67. Adjacent the upper end of cavity 82, a plurality of radial passages 84 extend inwardly to the annular return passage 28. rlhe inner cylindrical surface of head 76 of cap 70, below the gasket 78, is formed with a helical groove 85 having an inclination opposite to the inclination of ribs 69 and 83, so as to tend to prevent the rise of oil from cavity 82 toward the sealing gas-kets 7 8 and 79.

W hen in use, this roller will hang freely within the mill and will be permitted to swing` freely about the aXis of trunnion 18 so that centrifugal force will tend to force the pulverizing roller against the bull-ring. As the supporting spiderI 7 is rotated, the roller 10 will roll around on the inner surface of the bull-ring 9, whereby the rotatable assembly comprising the roller 10, cap 46, sleeve or housing 45, cap 7 0, gaskets 78 and 79, and minor features carried by these elements will rotate about the substantially fixed shaft 21. The sleeve or bushing 55 will not ordinarily move.y but may be forced upwardly against the shock absorbing spring 61 to take up vertical thrusts, and can if necessary rotate about the shaft 21 in case'V of injury to the roller bearings, or other binding of parts. Oil or other lubricant is forced in through inlet pasage 30, passage 33, and tubular conduit 35, into the upper end of tube 27 and thence down through the supply passage 25 per roller bearing 67 will be carried up by rib 83 and pass out through radial passages 84 to theannul'ar return passage 28, thence through passage 32 to the outlet passage 31 in thetrunnion shaft 18. Some of the oil will tend to escape through the joint between cap 70 and the shaft 21 and collar 80, but this escape of oil is largely prohibited by the gaskets 78 and 79, and the oil-returning grooves 81 and 85.

If it becomes necessary to remove or replace the pulverizing roller 10, this may be done merely removing the bolts 51 withoutfdisassembling the remainder of the rotatino' assembly.

Phe specific form of pulverizing roller assembly just described, is disclosed and claimed in my copending application, Serial No. 253,080. The present invention relates particularly to mechanism cooperating with a series of rollers of this general type for supplying a continuous iow of lubricant under pressure to and through the bearings of the several individual rollers. While the roller assemblyjust described is especially adaptable for use in such a lubricating system, the lubricating system now lto be described could be used with other forms of roller-assemblies, it only being necessary that provision be made within the roller-supporting means for permitting a continuous flow of oil through the bearings.

A base or standard 8G is mounted centrally on spider 7 above the end of driven shaft 3, and this base or standard supports the distributing and collecting head now to be described, and best shown in Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive. This head comprises a bottom plate 87 Vand a hollow casting 88,provided with a central web 89 which divides the head into a lower distributing chamber 90, and an upper collecting chamber 91. A series of spaced outlet openings 92 are formed around the periphery of chamber 90, in each of which is positioned an outlet plug 93. The inner ends of the several flexible conduits 42, which lead to the different roller-assemblies, are connected in communication with distributing chamber 90'by means of screw caps 94 secured on the Iouter ends of the several screw plugs 93. In an exactly similar manner, the collectin chamber 91 is provided with a plurality o inlet openings 95 in which are positioned screw plugs 96. The iexible conduits 43 through which lubricant is returned from the roller assemblies have their inner ends connected in communication with collecting chamber 91 by means of screw caps 97 thread ed onto the plugs 96.

A tubular member 98 is supported in vertical position coaxially with the driven shaft 3, by means of an outwardly projecting flange 99 in its upper end which is bolted at 100 to a supporting ring 101 carried by a plurality of radial arms or struts 102 secured at their outer ends to the housing 12 of the mill. The lower end of tubular member 98 projects downwardly through the distributing and collect-ing head, so that the head may rotate about it as an axis. The lower end 103 of tubular member 98 is journaled in a bushing 104 mounted in a hub 105 formed centrally in the bottom plate 87 of the head. A. plurality of circumiierentially arranged openings 100 place the interior of tubular member 98 in communication with the distributing chamber 90. rllhe intermediate portion of member 98 is journaled in the web 89 and also in the gland 107 adjustably mounted in the web and adapted to force a packing 108 into engagement with tubular member 98 in order to seal the joints around the tubular member between the chambers 90 and 91. Above the web 89, the member 98 is formed with an inner annular web 109 connected at its upper and lower ends to the outer wall of member 98 so as to separate the annular chamber 110 from the main passage 111 eX- tending through member 98. A circumferential series ot openings 112 connects the annular chamber 110 with the collecting chamber 91 in the head. The upper portion of member 98 is journaled in a bushing 113 mounted in the upper hub 114 of the head, and a gland 115 adjustably mounted in the upper end ot the head is adapted to torce a gasket 115 into sealing engagement with the tubular member 98. Aiixture 117 secured to the upper end oit member 98, is connected by screw cap 118 with the oil supply pipe 119. A nozzle 120 is termed on one side of the upper end portion ot member 98, in communication with the annular chamber 110 in this member, the nozzle being connected by a screw cap 121 with the outlet pipe 122.

The supply pipe 119 and return pipe 122 eX- tend out through one side of the mill hou-sing and communicate with any suitable and well known torni ot oil-tilter or oil purifier, reservoir and` pumping system by means of which a continuous supply ot oil may be forced in through pi ae 19 and drawn out through pipe 122.

In operation, oil will flow in through pipe 119, passage 111 in tubular member 98, and outlet ports 106 into the distributing chamber 90. From this chamber oil will flow through the several outlet pas-sages 92 and tlexible `cmuluits to the various roller assemblies, through which the oil will iow in the manner described hereinabove. The oil will return trom the roller assemblies through the several iiexible conduits 43 and be discharged into the collecting chamber 91, from which it will iiow out through passages 112 into the annular chamber 110 in stationary tubular member 98, from which it is withdrawn through nozzle 120 and return pipe 122, and thence back to the oil lilter and pumping system. lt will be apparent that this system is entirely automatic, and that a continuous flow of oil is provided through all of the roller assemblies, even though these rollers are completely housed within the mill and are given a continuous planetary motion about the axis of the rotating spider. The oil supply and pumping system are staf tionary and may be positioned at any convenient location outside of the mill.

l claim:

1. ln a pulverizing mill, the combination with a trame rotating about a vertical axis, a bull-ring, a plurality ot pulverizing roll ers suspended from said trame so that they may swing` outby centrifugal force against the bullring, and means couilprising a plurality of bearings for rotatably supporting each roller :trom the trame, of means tor causing a continuous ilow of oil from a central source through the bearings of the several rollers and back to the source.

2. in a pulverizing mill, the combination with a trame rotating about a vertical axis, a bull-ring, a plurality ot pulverizing rollers suspended from said frame so that they may swing out by centrifugal torce against the bull-ring, and means comprising a plurality ot bearings for rotatably supporting each roller from the trame, of means for causing a continuous liow ot oil from a -central source through the bearings oli' the several rollers and collecting and withdrawing the oil discharged trom the bearings.

3. In a pulverizing mill, the combination with a frame rotating about a vertical axis, a bull-ring, a plurality of pulverizing rollers suspended from said frame so that they may swing out by centrifugal torce against the bull-ring, and means comprising a plurality of bearings tor rotatably supporting each roller from the trame, olf means for causing a continuous iow ot oil to and Jfrom a source of supply outside of the mill, and means within the mill for dividing this oil flow into a plurality ot' separate streams, one ot which passes through the bearings of each roller.

4. ln a pulverizing mill, the combination with a trame rotating about a Vertical axis, a bull-ring, a plurality of pulverizing rollers suspended from said trame so that they may swing out by centrifugal torce against the bull-ring, and means comprising a plurality of bearings for rotatably supporting each roller from the trame, of an oil distributing and collecting mechanism mounted in line with the axis ot rotation, means for conducting oil to and irom this distributor from an outside source ot supply, and means for conducting oil Jrom the distributor to the bearings ot each roller and back to the distributor.

5. ln a pulverizing mill, the combination with a frame rotating about a vertical axis, a bull-ring, a plurality of pulverizing rollers suspended from said frame so that they may swing out by centrifugal force against the bull-ring, and means comprising a plurality of bearings for rotatably supporting eachv roller from the frame, of a head mounted on the frame in line with the axis of rotation and formed with separate collecting and distributing chambers, a non-rotatable tubular member positioned ceaXially with the frame and projecting through the chambers, separate passages in said tubular member one of which has ports communicating with the distributing chamber and the other having ports communicating with the collecting chamber, a pair of conduits leading from the passages in the tubular member to a source of oil supply, and a pair of conduits for each roller assembly, one conduit leading from the distributing chamber to the roller and the other leading from the roller back to the collecting chamber.

6. In a pulverizing mill, the combination with a frame rotating about a vertical aXis, a bull-ring, a plurality of pulverizing rollers suspended from said frame so that they may swing out by centrifugal force against the bull-ring, and means comprising a plurality of bearing for rotatably supporting each roller from the frame, of a head mounted onv the frame in line with the axis of rotation and formed with separate collecting and distributing chambers, a non-rotatable tubular member positioned coaXially with the frame and projecting through the chambers, separate passages in said tubular member one of which has ports communicating with the distributing chamber and the other having ports communicating with the collecting chamber, a pair of conduits leading from the passages in the tubular member to a source of oil supply, each roller assembly being formed with passages for conducting lubricant to and through the several bearings, and a pair of conduits for each roller connecting the inlet and outlet of these passages with the distributing and collecting chambers respectively.

7. In a forced feed lubricating system for the rollers of a pulverizing mill, in combination with the rotating spider and the several roller-assemblies carried thereby, a distribthe spider and rotating therewith and formed with separate distributing and collecting chambers, a non-rotary tubular member journaled within the housing and formed with separated interior feed and return passages, ports connecting these passages with the distributing and collecting chambers respectively, a pair of conduits connecting each roller assembly with the two chambers, and supply and return conduits communicating with the feed and return passages in the tubular member.

9. In aforced feed lubricating system for the rollers of a pulverizing mill, in combination with the rotating spider and the severa-l roller-assemblies carried thereby, a. distributing head mounted coaXially with the spider and comprising a housing secured to the spider and rotating therewith and formed with separate distributing and col-' lecting chambers, a non-rotary tubular member journaled within the housing and projecting through both chambers and formed with separated interior feed and return passages, sealing means surrounding the tubular member between the chambers and where the tubular member emerges from the housing, there being ports in the tubular member connecting the feed and return passages therein with the distributing and collecting chambers respectively, a series of conduits leading from the distributing chamber to the several roller assemblies, and another series of conduits leading from the roller assemblies back to the collecting chamber, and supply and return pipes communicating with the feed and return passages in the tubular member.

MARTIN FRISCH.

uting head mounted coaXially with the l spider and comprising a housing secured to the spider and rotating therewith and formed with a distributing chamber, a nonrotary tubular member journaled centrally Within the housing and vformed with passages communicating with the chamber, conduits connecting the distributing chamber with the several roller-assemblies, and a conduit for feeding oil to the tubular member.

8. In a forced feed lubricating system for the rollers of a pulverizing mill, in combination with the rotating spider and the several roller-assemblies carried thereby, a distributing head mounted coaXially with the spider and comprising a housing secured to 

